Traveling agricultural sprinkler

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled heavy duty sprinkler derives motive power from a supply of water under pressure which also feeds the rotary sprinkler head. A water-operated turbine wheel and gearing drive a cable wind-up drum which winds up an anchored cable to propel the sprinkler. An independent power train adapted to be driven from a tractor power take-off drives a hose reel on the machine. An improved steering arrangement is provided together with means to automatically de-activate the sprinkler drive gearing at the end of a traverse. A braking and anti-backlash device for the cable drum is included.

United States Patent Friedlander 51 Aug. 15, 1972 TRAVELING AGRICULTURAL SPRINKLER Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles 72 Inventor: Richard F. Friedlander, P. 0. Box Love 847, Moultrie Ga 31768 AttorneyB. P. Fishburne, Jr.

22 Filed: March 23,1971

[21'] Appl. No.: 127,165

[52] US. Cl. ..239/l89, 239/191, 74/625, 242/865 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B05b 3/00 [58] Field of Search ...242/86.5 R, 86.51, 86.2, 54R; 74/405, 625, 354; 239/188, 189, 190, 191, 192

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,478,964 ll/l969 Karmann ..239/l9l 3,515,350 6/1970 Kruse et a1 ..239/189 [5 7] ABSTRACT traverse. A braking and anti-backlash device for the cable drum is included.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures- PATENTEDAUG 15 I972 SHEET 1 [1F 3 RICHARD F. FRIEDLANDER INVENTOR BY m M ATTORNE PATENTEDAum 5 I972 SHEET 2 [IF 3 TRAVELING AGRICULTURAL SPRINKLER The invention relates to that class of traveling sprinklers exemplified by prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,142,448; 2,751,249; 3,489,352 and 3,477,643. In the first three of the above-noted prior patents, the wheeled sprinkler derives motivating power to move it across a field by I directing water under pressure from a stationary source through a hose to some form of turbine or paddle wheel which in turn, through suitable gearing, operates a winch drum which winds up the cable whose remote end is staked into the ground. Thus, the sprinkler propells itself over the field through tension on the cable as the latter is reeled in. The same water source which propels the sprinkler also supplies the sprinkler head or nozzle which irrigates the field or lawn.

These prior art devices have proven in practice to be not totally reliable and efficient in operation for a number of reasons. Among these reasons is an in adequate steering mechanism which can result in the sprinkler tending to wander from the path of travel along the cable. A further reason for inadequacy of the prior art resides in insufficient range or flexibility of the propulsion gearing to meet all of the conditions of rough terrain encountered in the field whereby the traveling sprinkler will frequently stall in the middle of a long field or have to have its course corrected manually. Also the prior art has failed to provide a convenient arrangement on the sprinkler for manipulating and deploying the long water supply hose.

In US. Pat. No. 3,477,643 mentioned last above, a more sophisticated machine is provided in an attempt to satisfy some of the noted prior art defects. However, this latter machine or sprinkler requires an internal combustion engine drive and utilizes a vertical axis hose reel whose construction is costly. In fact, the entire construction in the last-mentioned prior art patent is far too complex and costly to form a practical answer to the need or demand for an efficient and reliable mobile sprinkler for heavy duty applications of .agriculture, golf courses and the like.

Accordingly, it is the object of the invention to provide such a sprinkler which is greatly refined and improved over the prior art but at the same time exceedingly simple in construction, rugged and durable, highly reliable in operation, and very economical to manufacture. Other specific features and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a mobile sprinkler embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof, partly in section and with parts omitted for clarity.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of automatic sprinkler stop and start controls, also shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a further fragmentary side elevation of these controls and associated components in the sprinkler stopping position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of sprinkler propulsion drive gearing.

FIG. 7 is a similar fragmentary view of drive gearing for a hose reel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like nu merals designate like parts throughout, the numeral 10 designates a low elevation sturdy main frame for the sprinkler preferably of welded construction and whose details may be varied in certain instances according to needs. These frame details are not essential to a full understanding of the invention. The main frame 10 includes a rear axle member 11 upon which suitable rear wheels 12 are rotatably mounted. Front steering wheels 13 are mounted at the ends of a front axle member 14 for turning on vertical pins 15 under influence of steering cranks 16 and tie rods 17 whose interior ends are coupled through a short connecting element 18 with a short forwardly projecting plate 19 adapted to be coupled with a tractor draw bar 20 shown in broken lines. This front wheel steering arrangement is quite sensitive and responsive and when the sprinkler is propelling itself across a field by means to be described, it will faithfully follow the cable and will not tend to wander laterally. The sprinkler will also steer easily when drawn by a farm tractor as when being turned around at the end of each field run or traverse.

In this latter connection, means operated by a conventional tractor power take-off are provided on the sprinkler to -wind upthe long and heavy water hose 21 which is employed. THis means comprises a simple right angular bevel gear unit 22 on the forward end of the main frame having a longitudinal input shaft 23 adapted to be coupled with the tractor power take-off shaft 24 shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 through a conventional universal joint 25. The gear unit 22 has a lateral output shaft 26 carrying a sprocket gear 27 engaged by a chain 28 passing under an idler sprocket 29 and then engaging and driving a larger sprocket gear 30 on a transverse shaft 31, held in suitable bearings on the main frame 10 rearwardly of the gear unit 22. The shaft 31 carries a sprocket gear 32 engaged by a chain 33, in turn engaged by an idler 34, as best shown in FIG. 7. Chain 33 engages and drives a sprocket gear 35 on the supporting shaft 36 of a hose reel 37 for winding up the hose 2] at prescribed times during the operation of the sprinkler. The shaft 36, whose axis is horizontal and transverse, is supported by bearings 38 on the sides of the main frame 10.

The propulsion means for the sprinkler and the sprinkler head proper are mounted on the rear portion of the frame 10 and include a turbine housing 39 rigid on the frame 10 having a rear end connection 40 for the flexible hose 2] of the necessary length. Water under pressure delivered from a stand pipe in the field passes through the hose and into the turbine housing 39 which contains a conventional water wheel or turbine wheel, not shown. After driving this turbine wheel or impeller, the water is directed upwardly from the housing 30 through a vertical pipe 41 to a rotary sprinkler head 42 whose details are unimportant to the present invention. The turbine wheel in the housing 39 operates a transverse drive shaft 43 journaled in bearings 44 on the sprinkler frame. This shaft 43 carries a sprocket gear 45 engaged by a sprocket chain 46 which in turn is engaged by an adjustable idler 47 which maintains the proper degree of slack in the chain. The chain 46 engages and drives a sprocket gear 48 on an elevated transverse shaft 49 supported in elevated bearings 50. The shaft 49 carries four axially adjustable sprocket gears 51, 52, 53 and 54 of graduated diameter which are employed to obtain a full range of power for propelling the sprinkler with varying degrees of water pressure and on various types of terrain which are encountered. In the present illustration, the sprocket gear 53 is shifted to the operative position, FIG. 6, and is en gaged by a chain 55 trained around an adjustable idler 56 on the adjacent side of housing 39. This chain also engages and drivesa sprocket gear 57 on a lower elevation transverse shaft 58 supported in bearings 59 on the bottom of the frame 10, FIG. 1.

The shaft 58 carries another sprocket 60 on its far end engaged by a chain 61, engaging and driving a sprocket 62 on another transverse shaft 63 also held in bearings on the main frame slightly forwardly of and above the shaft 58, FIG. 1. Immediately inwardly of the sprocket 62 on shaft 63 is a spur gear 64 adapted to mesh with a bull gear 65 on a winch drum or spool 66 which is used to wind up the guide and propulsion cable 67 whose far end extends forwardly of the mobile sprinkler and is staked or otherwise anchored in the field at the end of the path to be traversed by the sprinkler.

The spool or drum 66 carrying the bull gear 65 is supported on the frame 10 through an eccentric shaft 68, and turning of this shaft on its eccentric axis will shift the gear 65 into mesh and out of mesh with the driving gear or pinion 64 which may be in continuous operation from the turbine wheel in the housing 39.

The means for turning the eccentric shaft 68 to shift the gear 65 includes a short crank arm 69 on the shaft 68 pivotally connected with an elongated longitudinal bar 70 having an upright handle 71 welded thereto near the forward end of the machine. As will be further described, this handle is utilized to place the gear 65 into mesh with the pinion 64 and when the machine completes its traverse of the field, the gear 65 is shifted out of mesh with pinion 64 to stop the movement of the sprinkler automatically.

In connection with this latter feature, particular reference is made to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. As shown in these figures, a transverse rocker shaft 72 near the front of the sprinkler frame and suitably journaled thereon carries a depending U-shaped cable guide 73 for the cable 67 as indicated. This guide contains two closely spaced bars 74 between which an enlargement 75 on the cable near its anchored end cannot pass. Consequently, as the sprinkler approaches the end of its field traverse and the cable 67 is almost completely wound on the spool 66, the enlargement 75 will strike the bars 74 and turn the guide 73 on the axis of shaft 72 as depicted in FIG. 5. The shaft 72 is provided near one end with a rigid crank or lifting rod 76 which engages under the forward end of the bar 70 when the latter is positioned as in FIG. 4 with the gears 64 and 65 in mesh and the sprinkler traveling forwardly. In such operative position, a notch 77 in the bottom of the bar 70 engages a detent 78 on a support bracket 79 attached to the main frame 10. This engagement of the bar 70 with the detent 78 maintains the two gears 64 and 65 in mesh and overcomes the action ofa retractile spring 80, FIG.

. 1, which constantly urges the bar 70 rearwardly for disengaging the gears 64 and 65. Therefore, when the guide 73 turns as shown in FIG. 5 and the element 76 raises the forward end of the bar 70 so that the notch 77 separates from the detent 78, the spring 80 will quickly retract the bar automatically and turn the crank 69 and eccentric shaft 68 in the proper direction to separate the gears 64 and 65 and automatically stop the movement of the wheeled sprinkler. Forward movement is re-established at the proper time by grasping the handle 71 and returning the bar 70 to the position shown in FIG. 4 which re-engages the gears 65 and 64. FIG. 5, on the other hand, shows the control elements when the machine is stopped. There is also a roller 81 on the front of the frame 10, FIG. 5, to arrest upward movement of the cable 67 during any vertical whipping action of the cable.

The sprinkler embodies another important feature which is both a convenience and safety feature. A pinion 82 is disposed on the forward side of the bull gear 65 diametrically opposite the driving pinion 64.

When the gears 64 and 65 are in mesh, the gears 65 and 82 are out of mesh, as shown in FIG. 2. The pinion 82 is carried bya shaft 83 journaled for rotation in a fixed bearing 84 having aslot 85 therein. The shaft 83 is equipped with a hand crank 86 so that the pinion 82 can be manually turned while gears 65 and 82 are in mesh to wind up the cable 67 on the spool 66. This would occur, for example, if rainfall should start during the operation of the sprinkler and it would be desirable to stop the operation somewhere in the field and wind in the cable manually. It will be understood that the previously-described eccentric shaft 68 and operating linkage is capable of shifting the gear 65 out of mesh with the pinion 64 and into mesh with the pinion 82.

A clamping device 87 surrounds the bearing tube 84 adjacent the slot 85 and this clamping device has a manual adjusting crank 88 operable to clamp or squeeze the tube 84 into tight frictional gripping engagement with the shaft 83 to form a positive stop or an adjustable friction brake on rotation of the shaft 83 and pinion 82. Inasmuch as the tension on cable 67 can be as high as 14,000 pounds, it is necessary upon stopping of the machine to employ the pinion 82 as a brake on the spool 66 through engagement of the gear 65 to prevent backlash in the cable. As stated, the friction gripping action on the shaft 83 carrying pinion 62 can be adjusted as found desirable by use of the crank 88, thus rendering the machine safer and more flexible in operation. When the gear 65 is suddenly shifted away from drive pinion 64 and into mesh with braking pinion 62, as when the machine automatically stops, there will be a controlled stopping or braking of the spool 66 against the heavy pull or tension in the cable and dangerous backlash is controlled and eliminated.

The overall operation of the sprinkler in irrigating a field is conventional and involves the use of stand pipes for supplying water under pressure located at intervals on a field midway of its length, the hose 21 being connectable with each stand pipe during the irrigation process generally as disclosed in FIGS. 7 and 8 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,643. The method of using the sprinkler in the field including the use of a towing tractor for turning the sprinkler around at the end of the field and for reeling in the hose is well known to anyone skilled in the'art and this procedure need not be described in full detail herein. Briefly stated, with the hose 21 deployed in front of the sprinkler and connected with one stand pipe and with the cable 67 anchored at the far end of the field, the sprinkler moves down the field and after passing the stand pipe, begins to pull the hose from behind. Upon reaching the far end of the field, the machine will automatically stop, as previously described, and at this time the tractor is employed to turn the sprinkler and through the power take-off shaft 24 to reel in the hose after it is disconnected from the stand pipe. The sprinkler is then moved laterally to the next stand pipe and the cable is staked to the ground. The sprinkler is towed halfway down the field in the return direction to connect the hose to the stand pipe and the cycle starts again at the original end of the field until the far end is again reached.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement'of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A mobile sprinkler comprising a wheeled frame, a hose reel on said frame, means on said frame coupled with the hose reel to rotate the same and adapted to be driven by a tractor take-off shaft, a propulsion cable winding drum on said frame including a bull gear, an eccentric shaft carrying the drum and bull gear on said frame and operable when turned on its eccentric axis to shift the drum and bull gear from a first operating position to a second operating position, a mechanical linkage connected with the eccentric shaft to turn the same for shifting the drum and bull gear, drive gearing on said frame including a drive pinion engageable with the bull gear to drive the same when the drum and bull gear are shifted to said first operating position, water turbine means on said frame adapted to be coupled with a water supply hose and including a rotary output shaft connected with said drive gearing, a second pinion on the frame on the side of the bull gear opposite from said drive pinion and spaced from the drive pinion by a distance greater than the diameter of the bull gear, whereby the bull gear is out of mesh with one pinion while in mesh with the other pinion, and adjustable friction brake means for said second pinion enabling the latter to apply a controllable holding force to the bull gear when the bull gear is in mesh with said second pinion.

2. The structure of claim 1, and said means coupled with the hose reel comprising a gear box having an input shaft-adapted to be coupled with a tractor takeoff shaft, a rotary output shaft, and transmission gearing operatively connecting the output shaft and said reel.

3. The structure of claim 1, and said mechanical linkage comprising a crank arm on the eccentric shaft, a link secured to the crank arm to turn the latter, spring means connected with the link and biasing the link and crank arm in a direction to maintain the bull gear out of mesh with the drive pinion and in mesh with the second pinion, a handle on said link for shifting the link and crank arm to a position where the bull gear is shifted into mesh with the drive pinion and out of mesh with the second pinion, detent means for locking the link in the last-named position in opposition to the force ex erted by the spring means, and means responding to the mobile sprinkler approaching the end of a field traverse to automaticall release the detent means so that the spring means W1 1 disengage the bull gear from the drive pinion and engage it with the second pinion to thereby stop the sprinkler.

4. The structure of claim 3, and the last-named means comprising a pivoted propulsion cable guide on said wheeled frame including a lifting arm disposed below said link when the detent means is active, said pivoted cable guide in the path of movement of an enlargement on the cable being wound up on the cable winding drum, whereby the enlargement will shift the cable guide in a direction causing the lifting arm to raise said link and disengage the detent means automatically when the sprinkler approaches the endof a field traverse.

5. The structure of claim 3, and an adjustable brake means connected with the second pinion so that the holding force which the latter exerts on the bull gear can be regulated.

6. The structure of claim 5, and a manual crank means connected with the second pinion to allow manual winding of the cable onto said drum when the bull gear is in mesh with the second pinion.

7. The structure of claim 5, and said brake means comprising a rotary shaft carrying the second pinion, a split bearing tube supporting the rotary shaft, and an adjustable clamp surrounding the split bearing tube so that the latter may be forced into frictional gripping engagement with the rotary shaft.

8. The structure of claim 1, and said water turbine means comprising an upstanding water discharge pipe on the turbine means, and a rotary sprinkler head mounted on the top of said pipe. I

9. The structure of claim 1, and said drive gearing including the drive pinion also including a change speed drive between the drive pinion and said rotary output shaft of the turbine means.

10. The structure of claim 9, and said change speed drive comprising a rotary shaft and plural gears elements of different diameters mounted on the shaft and each placeable at an operating position on the shaft for engagement with a driving element of said drive gearmg.

11. The structure of claim 10, and said hose reel, cable winding drum, drive pinion, second pinion, rotary output shaft of the turbine means and the shaft carrying the differential diameter gear elements all being transverse of the line of movement of the wheeled frame and parallel.

12. The structure of claim 1, and said wheeled frame including front steering'wheels, and a pivoted draft coupling on said wheeled frame having a connection with the steering gear of said steering wheels.

13. The structure of claim 12, and said steering gear comprising a steering crank on each wheel pivot, and tie rods interconnecting said cranks and forming parts of said connection with said pivoted draft coupling. 

1. A mobile sprinkler comprising a wheeled frame, a hose reel on said frame, means on said frame coupled with the hose reel to rotate the same and adapted to be driven by a tractor take-off shaft, a propulsion cable winding drum on said frame inCluding a bull gear, an eccentric shaft carrying the drum and bull gear on said frame and operable when turned on its eccentric axis to shift the drum and bull gear from a first operating position to a second operating position, a mechanical linkage connected with the eccentric shaft to turn the same for shifting the drum and bull gear, drive gearing on said frame including a drive pinion engageable with the bull gear to drive the same when the drum and bull gear are shifted to said first operating position, water turbine means on said frame adapted to be coupled with a water supply hose and including a rotary output shaft connected with said drive gearing, a second pinion on the frame on the side of the bull gear opposite from said drive pinion and spaced from the drive pinion by a distance greater than the diameter of the bull gear, whereby the bull gear is out of mesh with one pinion while in mesh with the other pinion, and adjustable friction brake means for said second pinion enabling the latter to apply a controllable holding force to the bull gear when the bull gear is in mesh with said second pinion.
 2. The structure of claim 1, and said means coupled with the hose reel comprising a gear box having an input shaft adapted to be coupled with a tractor take-off shaft, a rotary output shaft, and transmission gearing operatively connecting the output shaft and said reel.
 3. The structure of claim 1, and said mechanical linkage comprising a crank arm on the eccentric shaft, a link secured to the crank arm to turn the latter, spring means connected with the link and biasing the link and crank arm in a direction to maintain the bull gear out of mesh with the drive pinion and in mesh with the second pinion, a handle on said link for shifting the link and crank arm to a position where the bull gear is shifted into mesh with the drive pinion and out of mesh with the second pinion, detent means for locking the link in the last-named position in opposition to the force exerted by the spring means, and means responding to the mobile sprinkler approaching the end of a field traverse to automatically release the detent means so that the spring means will disengage the bull gear from the drive pinion and engage it with the second pinion to thereby stop the sprinkler.
 4. The structure of claim 3, and the last-named means comprising a pivoted propulsion cable guide on said wheeled frame including a lifting arm disposed below said link when the detent means is active, said pivoted cable guide in the path of movement of an enlargement on the cable being wound up on the cable winding drum, whereby the enlargement will shift the cable guide in a direction causing the lifting arm to raise said link and disengage the detent means automatically when the sprinkler approaches the end of a field traverse.
 5. The structure of claim 3, and an adjustable brake means connected with the second pinion so that the holding force which the latter exerts on the bull gear can be regulated.
 6. The structure of claim 5, and a manual crank means connected with the second pinion to allow manual winding of the cable onto said drum when the bull gear is in mesh with the second pinion.
 7. The structure of claim 5, and said brake means comprising a rotary shaft carrying the second pinion, a split bearing tube supporting the rotary shaft, and an adjustable clamp surrounding the split bearing tube so that the latter may be forced into frictional gripping engagement with the rotary shaft.
 8. The structure of claim 1, and said water turbine means comprising an upstanding water discharge pipe on the turbine means, and a rotary sprinkler head mounted on the top of said pipe.
 9. The structure of claim 1, and said drive gearing including the drive pinion also including a change speed drive between the drive pinion and said rotary output shaft of the turbine means.
 10. The structure of claim 9, and said change speed drive comprising a rotary shaft and plural gears elements of different diameters Mounted on the shaft and each placeable at an operating position on the shaft for engagement with a driving element of said drive gearing.
 11. The structure of claim 10, and said hose reel, cable winding drum, drive pinion, second pinion, rotary output shaft of the turbine means and the shaft carrying the differential diameter gear elements all being transverse of the line of movement of the wheeled frame and parallel.
 12. The structure of claim 1, and said wheeled frame including front steering wheels, and a pivoted draft coupling on said wheeled frame having a connection with the steering gear of said steering wheels.
 13. The structure of claim 12, and said steering gear comprising a steering crank on each wheel pivot, and tie rods interconnecting said cranks and forming parts of said connection with said pivoted draft coupling. 